My Resilience Story –
Nicole Muthoni
My name is Nicole Muthoni, and I am a proud beneficiary of Rescue Dada Centre. My story is one of resilience, strength, and unwavering hope—woven through years of uncertainty, love, and divine intervention.
Though I was very young at the time, I came to Rescue Dada Centre as a sickly infant rescued from Pumwani by the Catholic Archdiocese. I had been in the hospital alone, with no trace of my biological family. To this day, I still do not know who my parents are—but I live in hope that one day, I will.
One Sunday, my story was shared during mass at the Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi. It was there that Mr. David Robertson, an American working in Nairobi, heard about me. Moved by compassion, he took me into his home to care for me and support my recovery. Unfortunately, after the tragic 1998 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Mr. Robertson, who was employed there, had to return to the United States. Due to the security risks, he made the difficult decision to return me to Rescue Dada Centre.
Back at the Centre, a new chapter began. Irene, the then Director of Rescue Dada, was contacted by a lawyer whose aunt—my now adoptive mother—was seeking to adopt a child. That call changed my life forever. In 2000, my adoption was finalized, and I joined a loving family in Nairobi.
Growing up, I lived with my adoptive family and sometimes stayed with different relatives, but I never lost sight of what mattered—my education and purpose. I was consistently a top-performing student, and though I was initially called to Moi Tea Girls’ High School, I instead joined Riara Springs Girls’ High School, where I continued to thrive.
After high school, I received an opportunity to pursue higher education in the United States. I studied Psychology and Entrepreneurship—two fields that helped me understand not just human behavior but also the power of innovation in creating change.
Today, I live and work in Detroit, Michigan, where I support high-growth entrepreneurs and manage projects in business analytics and entrepreneurial development.
My journey—while rooted in unknowns—has been guided by resilience, faith, and the belief that our past does not define our future. I remain deeply grateful for the love I received through Rescue Dada Centre and the family that chose to believe in me.
My passion now is to give back. I want every girl and boy who passes through the doors of Rescue Dada to know that their story is still being written—and it can be beautiful. I hope to be a living testimony that no matter where you start, there is always a path forward. I want to be a catapult of hope—just as others were for me.
